Coin operated machine



Jan. 27, C. WAHL COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Jhz C. ZI/ah/ @y M@ @W @Qt/g.

IIJ

Jan. 27, 1942. J. c. WAHL 2,271,109

CQIN OPERATEDv MACHINE 'Filed Aug. 2, i958 5 sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 27, 1942. f J.' c. WAHI. 2,271,109

COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor LohnCZl/a/QL 121g MQ- f wit? Jan. 27, 1942. J. c WAHI.

COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, l958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z ramp ww 0% w I@ m2 Jan. 27, 1942. J. c. WAHL G01N OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor John C. Zl/ajzb 1259 QM() PW Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v2,271,109 COIN oPERATE-D MACHINE John C. Wahl, Chicago, Ill., assignor'- to Lion Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation f-Il1inois Application August 2, ms, serial No. 222,615

'7 Claims. (Cl

This invention relates to a coin operated ma-y chine.

More particularlyit relates to a dual type of machine, wherein are embodied at least two coin controlled mechanisms, which mechanisms mayA be conjointly operated or individually operated," said mechanisms Yto be respectively coin released,

anda common manual means serving to operate either or both as desired.

Such machinemay in practice take the form*4 of a vender or dispenser in which two separate dispensing mechanisms are provided, which individually are coin controlled respectively by coin handling mechanisms, and a common manual operating means being present and set by the v coin handling mechanisms so that the manuall means when moved will operate the dispensers. O-f course, only the dispenser selected for coin operation should work and therefore that dispenser which is not coin released should notrz()l work, or if both dispensers are simultaneously coin released and selected, then both should work upon operation ofr the .common manual means.

move the coin in the handling mechanism from its operating position to a display position, where the coins used are displayed temporarily; thus discouraging persons from using fraudulent coins. When the rock shaft swings it alsov operates means to move the slide dispensers; however, if no coin is held momentarily in` a coin handling mechanism at the operating position, thenmeans is set to lock the corresponding dispenser, whereby it cannot operate, even if the said rock shaft is operated by the hand lever in working the other dispenser.

A duplex machine of this type has many de-g`25 sirable advantages; for instance, it is compact and while occupying only the space of a'single machine produces all of the results o-f two machines.

The main object of the invention is to provide; y

a novel coin operated machine.

Another object is to provide .a dual form of machine having separate coin released, manually operated means, controlled by a `common operating member. a; Still another objectof the invention is to provide a compact machine of the type stated, which will be efficient and fool-proof in operation.

Another object is to lprovide a machine, housing at least two dispensers, individually released,k

or locked by respective coin handling mechanisms depending upon whether the .latter mechanisms receive a coin, there being a manually moved means operable to Work one or both of the dispensers if they have been coin released and: set for operation.

Other important objects will become apparent to those versed in this art as the 'disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, such objects may be achieved bythe illustrative example of the invention herein chosen for the sake of disclosure, in which form a housing or support is provided carrying two, spaced, separate slide type article dispensers.

yThe support carries two coin handling andre- So much will suflice in giving a general understanding of the structure of the improved coin operated machine, which .is shown in detail in the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a general front elevational view of the machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, front elevational de-` tail View of a part of the coin controlled mechanism; v

liigiire 3 is a general side elevational view of the machine;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in a slightly different position;`

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view 'of the machine with the back Wall of the cabinetl removed to expose the interior mechanism;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the interior mechanism with the cabinet or housing removed; and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged, front elevational, view of one of the coin handling mechanisms.

The improved coin machine may be in the form of a dispenser and comprises a suitable cabinet rI5 having a front wall IS, opposite upper portions of which are formed with elongated vertical, vglass covered, display openings, or' windows Il.v Above, and to one side of the windows is a circular opening in the wall I6 through which is projected the coin entrance sleeve I8 carried f at the yupper end of front plates I9 disposed in an upright manner and tilted rearwardly as 1 shown out of'a'vertical plane.

It will be understood that these plates I9 constitute the support or frame for the respective coin handling and release mechanisms of which two are provided in this machine, since two dispensers are to be controlled. Each coin handling mechanism is a duplicate, in all respects, of the other; however, for the sake of compactness, one is right hand and the other is left hand. Thus, it will be understood hereafter, when only one coin handling mechanism is being described, that the other is the same.

Inside the cabinet I5 is suitably positioned a frame comprising opposite, spaced side members 20, the front edges of which have secured thereto a rear plate 2I somewhat thicker than the front plate I9. These two plates I9 and 2I are substantially coextensive in size and shape and lie fiatly one on the other, both being inclined from the vertical, as shown, and serving together as the mounting means or support for the coin chute or handling mechanisms. These two plates as a unit are secured to the front edges of the two spaced side frame members 20 by bolts 22 which enter respective holes 23 provided in the plates I9 and 2I for that purpose.

At the lower portion of the cabinet I5 the frame 20 carries a cross rock shaft 24, one end thereof extending `outwardly through an end wall of the frame where it carries fast thereon an upright operating member in the form of a hand lever 25. This shaft 24 when freed by the coin handling mechanism to be described, can be rocked by the lever 25 to operate, or cause to be operated, any suitable means, such as the dispensers to be described. One end of the shaft 24 inside the cabinet and adjacent one side member 20 carries fast thereon a lever 26 and an oppositely extending boss 21 also fast thereon.

Thus the parts 26 and 21 rock with the shaft 24.

This end of the shaft 24 also carries loosely thereon a quadrant shaped member 28, one corner of which carries a transverse pin 29 engaging behind an edge of the arm 26, as shown.

The quadrant 28 at another point carries a rigid;

oppositely extending transverse pin 30 which normally is held in the narrowed end of an opening 3| formed in the proximate frame member 20, because of the pull of a spring 32 connected between the quadrant 28 and member 20 as f shown in Figure 6. The quadrant between its pins is formed with a hump 33 normally engaged by a lock lever 34 pivoted intermediate its'ends at 35 to the frame 20 and pulled by a spring 36 to engage one end of the lever 34 with said hump 33 as shown in Figure 3. A notch in the quadrant is formed at 33 adjacent the hump. A lifting link 31 has one end pivotally connected to the operative end of the lever 34, as shown. Only one of the coin handling mechanisms includes a link 31 and there is only one quadrant 28.

Adjacent the boss 21 the frame 20 by means of a pin 38 pivotally carries a lever 39 one vend of which is engaged with the boss 21 while the other end has pivoted thereto, one end of an upright link 40.

The link 31 is controlled by a proper coin held in an operating position, as will later appear, to cause the link 31 to be held raised whereby the latch 34, 33 is released to enable operation of the lever 25 and shaft 24. At the same time the link 40 through boss 21 or lever 39 may be pulled down to operate mechanism to be described for positively moving a coin downwardly from its operating position into a coin edisplay escalator, said escalator also being driven as the result of the upward movement of said link 40.

The link 4I] has its upper end pivotally connected to a bell crank 4I (see Figure 6) pivoted on a cross shaft 42 carried on members 20. The

other corner of the member 4I carries a rigid transverse pin 43 located in the notch 44 of the downturned end of a spring pulled lever 45 which is rotatably mounted between its ends on a cross shaft 46 carried in the frame 20. This lever 45 (there being one on each side) extends upwardly and forwardly and has a head end 41 shaped to extend forwardly through a vertical, narrow, elongated sloi-l 48 (see Figures 6 and 7) formed through the superimposed plates I9 and 2I.

A latching lever 49 is also pivoted on the fulcrum 46 for each lever 45, the same having a hooked free end to form a notch 50 for a purpose later to be made known. Each lever 49 has a transverse extension 5I arranged over the back edge of the associated large lever 45 and a spring 52 connected between the extension 5I and lever 45 as shown in Figure 6 causes the levers 49 to move with levers 45 although the two are independently pivotally mounted on the fulcrum 46. Each lever 45 is positively moved down as will appear and the spring 52 pulls latch lever 49 down with it, although the levers 45 make a much longer down stroke since it is necessary for their heads 41 to travel substantially the length of the respective slots 48.

The upper end of the link 31 as shown in Figure 6 is pivotally connected to a proximate transverse pin 53 fastened to a forwardly extending arm 54 integral with a sleeve 55 made fast to a cross shaft 56 journaled in the end plates 20. (See Figure 2.) The arm 54 at each end of shaft 56 is made wide so that it can rigidly carry twoA vertically spaced, transversely extending, parallel pins 51 and 58. Each pin 51 extends into an opening 59 larger in diameter than the pin, land formed in an arm extension 60 extending forwardly from respective upright levers 6I loosely pivoted intermediate their ends on the shaft 56. A 4spring 62 is connected between an upper part of each lever 6I and the other pin 58 on arm' 54. Relative movement, becauseof the loose connection 51, 60 can take place between link 31 and the loose levers 6I. While there are two levers 6I, it will be understood that they are disposed one on the rock shaft 56 at each end o f the latter, but that only one arm 54 has a depending link 31, because there is only one sector 28 associated with rock shaft 24. These levers 6I' have each a lower extension 62 and a rear .extension 63, which/extensions in this disclosure may be considered to serve as counterbalancing means for the lever 6I. The upper ends of the levers 6I are turned upwardly and forwardly and at their upper terminal ends carry a transverse pin 64 for a purpose to appear.

There has now been described all of the auxiliary operating mechanism cooperating with the coin handling mechanisms and released thereby for operation. The specific details of the coin handling mechanisms, both of which are alike, will now be described.

.The plate support I9 and 2I of each mechanism, has an upper oiset portion (see Figures 1 and 6) and a lower offset portion, the upper portion serving to carry the coinI entrance passage and testing means, while the lower offset portion forms the display means cooperating with a coin escalator.

Taking the upper offset portion first, it will v be seen that the plates I9 and 2I between'them are provided with a downwardly extending coin drop passage 65 leading from the coin drop opening I8. "This passage at its lower end curvesl to `operate with and t into the slot 80 Yalready 'a position where the lower end of the slot 48 described. One edge of this head 81 proximate would approximately diametrically aline across the face of a coin lodged at the lower endof said passage 65. In this latter position the coin,-one

of vwhich is shown in dotted lines at 66 in Figure f 1u. The rear plate 2| in back of the slot sa, te i is formed with a similarly shaped slot 1| of considerably greater width, in fact of a Width designed to conform to the diameter of undersized coins, such as pennies. The penny will be assumed herein to be undersize and the properl size coin will be considered the ve cent piece. Thus, the back side of the coin drop passage 65 in advance of the operating position designated by coin 66 will be open and since the plates I9, 2| lean back, it follows undersized coins such as dimes and pennies will fall from the passage 65 through slot 1| before they canreach an operating position. Such rejected coins can be received by any suitable chute, not shown, and directed to any out of the way place in the cabinet, as may be desired.

On the front face of plate i8 on opposite sides of the slot 68 are ears 12 for mounting a cross shaft 13 on which is rockable intermediate its ends, a peculiarly shaped lever 14 having 'an with slot 1| to deflect undersize coins from the passage 65 in an obvious manner and as fully disclosed in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 222,247 filed on July 30, 1938. Adjacent the upper end of the slot 68 above shaft 13 one edge of the slot is provided with a piece 19 to project into the slot and against the top edge of which the rear end of the tail member 15 abuts to limit the movement of the latter inr an inward direction. The weights 16 and 11 being forward of the pivot 13 act normally to swing the tail 15 outwardly and hold the extension 18 inwardly so that a coin moving down the passage 65 must engage same.

The plates I9 and 2| below the coin drop spout I8 and to one side thereof have a transverse slot 80 formed therethrough as appears in Figures 6 and 1, the front portion of the slot tapering downwardly as at 9|. The back sides of the plates 2|, as seen in Figure 5, are provided with pairs of spaced ears 82 carrying a transverse shaft 83. Pivotally hung from this shaft is a lever 84 shaped as the tail' of an enlarged head portion 85 provided with means 86 to add counterweights to hold said levers normally back with their tails 84 extending forwardly into the slots 68. Secured to the head 85 of each lever is a laterally extending stop 4member 81, having ,a horizontal -portion formed with a notch 88 and a front extension 89 curved downwardly to co- The` front plate -|9 is' `hook 96. y a pin 91 in a space 98 provided between the plates the entrance to the coin drop vpassage 65 will engage the edge of one coin when two coins are simultaneously fed into the respective spouts |8 to make it possible for one coin only to enter a passage 65 and move therealong as will later more fully appear. A coin in the operatingv position, such as the coin66 serves a cooperating locking function in this connection, as will next appeal'.

Looking at the back side of each yplate 2l, as shown rin Figure 5, it will be seen that on opposite sides of the upper end of the vertical slot Y48 there are provided two spaced ears 90, carrying a cross shaft 9| on which is hinged, intermediate its ends, a generally upright lever 92. Said levers each have a right angularly turned, upwardly extending portion '93 disposed in the notch 88 of a proximate member 81. These levers extend quite a distance below their fulcrums and at their lower ends are formed with forwardly extending portions 94 and rearwardly extending fork portions 95. The forward portion 94 extends through a vertical slot 96 formed in the plates |9 and 2| adjacent slots 48 so that the portion 94, as shown in Figure 6, may press against a coin held in the operating position in the passage 65, such as the coin 66 shown. The balanced weight of said levers 92 is such that the part 94 will tend to pass into the slots 96, unless a coin is in the operating position and then, of course, the part 94 will abut the back side of such coin. As shown in Figure 6, when a coin as 66 is abutted by the part 94, the lever 92 is locked against movement so that the upper part 93 thereof is pressed forwardly in the notch 88 to hold the stop member 89 forwardly in the slot to prevent ingress of coins into` the entrance to the passage 65.

The plate 2| along one edge is formed with a (See Figure 7.) Pivotally carried on I 9 and 2| is a latch member 99 which has a hook end |00. A spring |0| connectsA between the hook |00 and hook 96' normally to pull the latch 99 so that the same may project its end intoy the slot 96 and abut the lower edge of a coin, such as-coin 66, and positively hold same in the operating position at the lower end of the passage 65 as shown. The movement of said latch 99 is limited by one edge of the space 98.

As shown in each coin handling mechanism,

vone edge of the plates |9 and 2| is complementarily extended laterally to provide ears |02 between which is secured, by a screw |03, a horseshoe magnet |04, positioned horizontally, with the end of the lower leg rounded or curved as at |05. This magnet has its field disposed proximate a side edgeI of the coin drop passage 65 in a manner best to attract magnetic slugs dropping down the passage 65. (See Figure 7.) Theears |02 carry a small receptacle |06 therebelow and a slot |01 is formed in the rear plate 2| laterally from the passage 65 and directed toward the open top of the box |06 so that a magnetic slug will be magnetically attracted and drawn side or edgewise to the left, as viewed in Figure 7, and

lwith the aid of gravity, cause it to roll under and around the arcuate magnet leg |05 to pass through the slot |01 and into the box |06.

Going backnow to lever 92, the lower end thereof is forked `as at 95, said fork spanning .the

'.pin 64 on the upper end of the lever 6|. Play toothed disk |33.

is permitted between the fork 95 and pin 64. The escalator for moving the coins out of the coin handling mechanism will next be generally deu scribed.

As shown in Figure 6 the back plate 2| at its lower ciset portion below the operating position of the coin 66 carries by means of screws in spaced relation to the plate 2|, an auxiliary plate |08 of irregular shape. Below the operating position of the coin 66, the rear plate 2| is cut out to form a long vertical coin display passage |09 having an abutment edge ||0. The top plate |9 has its lower offset portion extended slightly to overhang the abutment edge whereby coins moving down said display passage |09' are properly guided and cannot jump or be forced out. It will be understood that this display passage |09 is directly under or behind the window I1 in the cabinet or housing I6, so that Vthe coins in the passage |09 are readily visible at all times.

Upper and lower portions of the plate |08 carry an upper shaft I and` a lower parallel shaft ||2. A front stationary plate ||3 isfcarried on the shafts I II and I I2. Each shaft carries loosely, a reel mechanism for an endless escalator band. Each reel is numbered II4. Each reel for each coin handling mechanism is formed at angular intervals on its periphery with driver prongs I I6 and a spool surface lfor an endless steel band I I1, which has spaced slots I I8 to receive the lugs ||6 whereby to drive the band. The band approximately on yits center line is formed with large coin receiving slots I I9 (see Figure 7), which individually may receive coins in the manner indicated. The width of the slots I9, as well as their length may be varied in different bands in accordance with the size of the coins to be handled. Said reels at angular intervals are formed with pockets, as shown in the co-pending application mentioned, to receive coins sticking through the band ||1 and slots I|9.

The plates II3 each have an outstanding ear |23 carrying a pin or roller |24 serving to keep the bands |I1 properly guided and tensioned.

Carried fast on the upper shaft III of each coin handling mechanism adjacent to but on the back side of the upper reel I |4 is a toothed driver disk |33 positioned on the front side of the plate |08 (see Figure 5), said plate having a large arcuate slot |34 formed therein, as shown. The shaft III on the back side of the plate |08 has fast thereon a lever |35 pivoted intermediate its ends. This lever carries a pin |36 to which is connected a spring |31 in turn connected to a pin |38 mounted on the plate |08. This spring |31 normally acts to pull the right hand end of the lever |35 down as viewed from the rear. The

upper right hand corner of this lever |35 carries a pivot pin |39 to which is pivoted a driver pawl |40 engageable with the teeth on disk |33, said pawl |40 having a hump |4| for a purpose to appear. A pin |42 on the pawl |40 has a pull spring |43 connected to it, the spring having its other end connected to the lever |35. The spring |43 holds the pawl |40 to duty against the An upstanding part of the plate |08 carries a pin |45 against which the hump |4| engages to limit the stroke of the pawl |40 and lever |35.

The back side of the lever |35 at its upper left yhand corner as viewed from the rear in Figure 6 carries a rearwardly extending pin |46. Piv- `otally connected to the pin |46 at its lower end is an upstanding link |41 theupper end of which is pivotally connected by means of a pin |48 to the lever 45.

The lever 92 heretofore described, at its lower end carries a laterally extending pin |54 positioned in the path of movement of the lever 4,9 so that its hook portion or notch 50 may at times engage over and latch with the said pin |54.

The coin escalator mechanisms and coin testing mechanisms for each unit above generally described form no part of the present invention, since they are more adequately disclosed and covered in a co-pending application of this application iiled on July 30, 1938, Serial Number 222,247, for Coin handling mechanism.

The oor of the coin machine at each end carries `a dispenser of any type, the ones herein shown being of the slide type. Each dispenser comprises a slide |55, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, carried appropriately for sliding movement, to and fro, on the floor of the machine. These dispensers are well known in the art and include respective upright magazines |56, containing stacks or columns of superimposed flat articles of any character to be dispensed. Such articles are shown at |51. The slides |55 have respectively a cut out opening |58 therein conforming to the size and shape of the articles to be dispensed. In the normal position each slide is positioned with its opening |58 directly under a magazine |56 so that by gravity an article |51 rests in said opening |58. Such article rests on the iioor numbered |59, which has an article discharge vender opening |60 formed therein offset from each magazine |56, as shown. As appears in Figure 6, when the slide |55 is moved to the right the article |51 trapped in slide opening |58 is moved with said slide until it is positioned over the opening |60 to drop therethrough, and thereupon such article is received by means of chutes not shown in respective troughs ISI, shown in Figure 1, where the operator can take the article.

The shaft 24 at each end has loosely carried thereon a pendant lever |62 having a pin |63 at its lower end to t into a saddle member |64 carried rigidly on the top side of each slide |55. A leg of a coil spring |65 surrounding the shaft 24 is attached to the levers |62 respectively, while the opposite end of each said spring is fastened to the shaft 24. These springs |65 are quite stiff so that normally they will not give and thus act to move the arms |62 as though they were rigidly connected to the shaft. However, if the slides |55 areheld locked then the springs |65 would yield and not move the lever arms |62 so that the dispenser slide |55 associated with it could not operate.

It so happens that if the coin handling mechanism associated with a dispenser is not properly coin released, that means is automatically made effective to lock the associated slide |55 and prevent its operation. Such means comprises a bell crank lever |66, there being one on each side, journaled on a respective pin |61 carried in a proximate wall member 29. This structure appears in Figures 5 and 6, where lone leg of each lever |66 has pivotally connected to it a depending lock rod |68, the lower ends of which respectively are guided in a vertical sleeve |69 carried on the slides |55. Each slide |55 has a bore registering with said sleeve and adjacent each slide |55 the iloor |59 is provided with a hole |10, so that the rod |68 may at times, when desired, drop by gravity normally through a sleeve |69, slide |55, and into a hole |10 to lock the said slide |55 releasably to the floor |59 against movement in an obvious manner. The opposite leg of each bell crank lever |66' rods |68 ex when the slides |55 are moved and the normal resistance of the rods |68 is not sufficient to make the springs |65 effective to swing the arms |62. Said springs |65 yield only when the rods |69 are locked to the floor |59 in a hole |10. These dispensers and their lock means are illustrative forms of what may be used in practice.

This completes the description of the details of the improved coin operated machine. The operation thereof will now be summarized.

The purpose of the structure, of course, is to pass proper coins through the handling mechanisms to cause release of the one sector member 28 so that the one hand lever 25 may be swung to operate the dispensers of the coin controlled machine; at the Same time causing linkage to be effective for moving coins from the coin passage 65 into the escalator display means, and lastly, to cause operation of one or the other, or both dispensers |55.

When a single authentic coin, let us say a ve cent piece, is placed atwise into the spout I8 of one coin handling mechanism, it will enter the upper end of the coin passage 65, pass the head 81 which is held back by the balanced lever 84; also passing the portion which is held forwardly by the weighted lever 14 and its tail 18 as it slides down the passage 65 and finally comes to rest in the operating position as indicated at 66 in Figure 7. Here the stop dog 99 serves to hold the coin. In this position the coin 66 swings back the tail portion 94 of the balanced lever 92 so that the upper end 93 of the latter moves forwardly in the notch 88 of the head 81, whereby to swing the latter forwardly. This results in placing the stop 89 which is extended into and through the slot 80 in a forward position, so that no coin for the time being can drop below the upper end of the passage 65 where it will be held by said projection 89. f

With the lower end of the lever 92 thus pushed back by the coin 66, as seen in Figure 6, the edge of the fork 95 on the lower end of said lever 92 engages and pushes the shaft 56 slightly clockwiseas viewed in Figure 6. Thus, even though only one coin handling mechanism receives a coin in the operating position, nevertheless since the rock shaft 56 rocked, the other lever 6| on the opposite side is also correspondingly moved. Thus, the front end of the arm 54 is raised so that its pin 53 will pull on and raise the link 31 an amount sufficiently to lift the right hand endl of lever 34 as shown in Figure 6. The operator may now grasp the lever 25 and swing same forwardly to rock the coin machine shaft 24, since the latter is freed. When the shaft 56 is rocked,

both arms 54 raise at their front ends by the n structure shown in Figure 2, even though only one coin handling mechanism is operated.

This brings about a situation where it would appear every time the rock shaft 56 is rocked by a coin in only one coin handling mechanism at the operating position thereof, that the dispenser on the 'opposite side would alsowork when the shaft 24 is rocked. But this is not'so, for in thel other coin handling mechanism that did not receive `a coin we find that the lever 92 is swung with its portion 94 projected forwardly'through the associated slot 96 since no coin is in the associated operating position to hold the part 94 back. Consequently, the associated forkpart is also in its` forward position to free the bell crank |66 as its pin |1| cannot be pressed back by the part 95. It follows, then, that with lever |66 free, they associated rod |68 by gravity will drop through the slide |55 below it and into hole |10 to lock the said slide |55 to the oor |59 against operation. This is the normal position of these parts when no coin. is in the operating position, as will now be readily understood. f

As the shaft 24 rocks counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 4 the arm 26 engages pin 29 and rocks the quadrant 28 to the left or forwardly against the pull of the spring 32. With the parts so releasedV by a proper coin the stop end of lever 34 will clear and rideover the hump on the sector 28 just to the rear or right hand of the notch 33'. As the shaft 24 so rocks, the abutment 21 rocks in the same direction, wherebyto pushl up on the front end of the lever'39, causing the link 40 to be pulled downwardly. As said link comes down the bell crank lever 4|, as best seen in Figure 6, is swung to cause its pin 43 to move rearwardly in notch44 of lever 45 to swing the forward end 41 thereof` downwardly in theslot 46. At the same time` the lever 49 also swings down by the pull of the spring 52, until the hook notch 59 thereof rides over the pin |54 to lock the lever 92 and with it, of course, the tail 94 which is engaging the coin 66 in its operating position. With the lever 92 temporarily latchecl it cannot at this in-r stant swing, so the upper stop arrangement 93, 89 is still effective to prevent passage of coins down the passage 65. As the lever 45 continues its down stroke, its front nose end 41 engages the coin in the operating position and presses it downwardly with a force sufficient to retract the yieldable stop dog 99.'

The coin 66 now passes below the dog which springs back into stop position to stop the next coin entering the operating position. The first mentioned coin now enters the upper end of the display passage |69 where it engages in a slot I9 in-the endless steel band ||1.

vAs the lever k45 swung down it pushed down on the link |41, shown in Figure 5, to operate the lever |35 and pawl |49. 'I'hus the ratchet disk |33was turned one step and the two reels |I4 are'simultaneously turned one step in the same direction.v This moves the run of the band ||1 adjacent the abutment ||9 downwardly, and with the coin carried therein, it follows the latter is moved one step down in display position behind-the window |1 and held there until the band ||1 is again moved. As shown in Figure 1, five coins are simultaneously held in display position by the escalator band, the coins being fed in at the top as described, and eventually dropping out one at a time from the low end of the passage |09 into a cash box or any other desired place.

When the lever 25 is now released the sprin-g 32 pulls the quadrant rearwardly until pin 38 engaging in the rear end of the opening 3| stops same, this position beingshown in Figure 3. The parts now operate in the reverse orderand assume their initial operating positions. That is the link 31moves down; the link 46)V moves up,.the

lever 45 is moved up, and likewise, the latch 49,- thus freeing the lever 92 so that under its balanced weight the tail v94 is swung forwardly and the top part 93 thereof is swung rearwardly to free the stop member 89. The mechanism is obviously now ready for another coin to drop through passage 65 to the operating position as heretofore described.

It is quite plain now that where one coin handling mechanism has been set by a coin in operating position as at 66 that the lever 92 has been moved, thus also moving proximate lever |66 to raise the associated rod |68 and then when rock shaft 24 moves, the arm |62 can move the dispenser |55 on the same side. The opposite dispenser is locked and cannot work as has been explained. If a coin is in both handling mechanisms at the same time, at the operating positions 66 thereof, then the one lever 25 by movement of shaft 24 causes both dispensers to be freed and to operate simultaneously in an obvious manner.

If a magnetic slug is used it will be attracted and moved sidewse by the magnet |04, the slug with the aid of gravity rolling around the rounded leg of the magnet and through the side slot |01 into the receptacle |06, as shown in Figure 7, so that such fraudulent coin cannot reach the operating position.

When no coin at all is used, the lever 92 by its weight is so balanced that the tail 94 extends forwardly through the slot 96. By means of pin 64 the lever arm 54 is rocked forwardly causing the link 31 to be held down. It follows, as shown in Figure 4, that before hand lever 25 can be rocked forwardly very far, the tail on the end of the lever 34 will catch in the notch 33 and lock the sector 23 as well as the lever 25 against a full stroke. It follows, therefore, that the con machine cannot be released and a dispenser cannot operate, if no coin is in the operating position holding the tail 94 of the lever 92 back in a corresponding coin handling mechanism.

Undersized coins, because the passages 65 lean back from the vertical, hit the respective tail extensions 18 and are deflected thereby flatwse rearwardly out through the enlarged slots 1| as has been explained.

When a coin is in the operating position, as at 66, in either coin handling mechanism, another coin cannot be passed down the passage 65, because the first coin 66 holds the tail 94 of lever 92 back and the portion 93 thereof forwardly to press the stop head 89 into a position to obstruct the upper end of the passage 65 and prevent the second coin from passing down the passage 65 against the previous coin held in the operating position. This safe-guard prevents the possibility of successive coins jamming in the passage 65.

If unauthentic coins or slugs should pass the above safe-guards provided, and enter the operating position to enable release of the coin machine, it is but an instant before such coin will be lodged in the display position passage |09, where for five operations the improper coin will be displayed to shame the player.

It can now be seen that an improved mechanism has been provided for the purposes stated, which achieves the objects heretofore recited. Obviously, more than two coin handling and re.- leasing mechanisms and dispensers may be used if desired within the bounds of this invention.

The intention is to cover all changes and modifications of the example herein chosen for illustrative purposes, which do not in fact constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention Ias expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin operated machine, a coin handling mechanism including a pivoted member adapted to be moved into an operating position by a coin held in the mechanism, a cross rock shaft operatively assoc-iated with said mechanism, said mechanism including means carried on the rock shaft and operable by the associated pivoted member to rock the shaft, a second rock shaft, means to lock the second shaft releasably, manual means to rock the second shaft when it is freed, and means controlled by a coin in the operating position in said mechanism and movable by said means on the first rock shaft to free the second rock shaft for operation.

2. In a coin machine, a first rock shaft, a second rock shaft, means to lock the second rock shaft, independently operable coin handling devices associated respectively with the first rock shaft each including coin moved means to rock the rst rock shaft, additional means associated with said devices to free the second rock shaft, manual means to rock the second shaft when same has been freed, normally inoperative dispensers included in the machine respectively for each coin handling device, means causing said dispensers to operate when the second rock shaft has been rocked, and means to hold that dispenser inoperative when its associated coin handling device does not receive a coin.

3. In a coin operated machine, a plurality of dispensers, common means for jointly or severally causing operation of the dispensers, means for normally latching the common means against operation, a plurality of coin handling mechanisms respectively corresponding with the dispensers and associ-ated therewith, means for normally latching the dispensers, and means controlled by the presence of a coin in a handling mechanism to cause unlatching of the common means and corresponding dispenser for operation,

4. In Ia coin operated machine, a plurality of individual dispensers, separate coin receiving mechanisms provided respectively for the dispensers, rockable means common to said dispensers to operate same, means for releasably locking said operating means when no coin is passed through any coin receiving mechanism, means operable by any coin receiving mechanism including parts therein to receive and hold a coin for moving the locking means and freeing the common means when a coin is passed into said coin receiving mechanism, and a single manually operable member for operating the released common means to effect operation of the dispenser corresponding to the coin receiving mechanism which received a coin.

5. In a coin released machine, a support, a rock shaft journaled therein, a pair of movable dispensers positioned proximately to the rock shaft, means individually and releasably locking the dispensers against movement to dispensing positions, a manually operable lever on the support to rock the rock shaft and connections from the shaft to the lever to cause operation of any dispenser that may be unlocked, means releasably to lock the manually operable lever against operation, and coin freed mechanism respectively provided for each dispenser and including coin moved parts to unlock the lever and a selected dispenser so that when said lever is operated the coin freed dispenser may be moved to a dispensing position.

6. In a coin released machine, a, support, a rock-ably mounted part carried thereby, a plurality of movable dispensers positioned adjacent the rockable part, means individually and releasably locking the dispensers against operation, manually operable means to move the rockably mounted part and including connections from the part to cause operation of any dispenser that may .be unlocked, means releasably locking the manually operable means against operation, and a plurality of coin freed mechanisms respectively provided for each dispenser and each including coin moved parts to unlock the manually operable means and the dispenser corresponding thereto whereby any or all dispensers may be operated upon operation y of the manually operable means.

7. In a coin operated machine, a pair of coin handling mechanisms each including a pivoted member adapted to be moved into an operating position by a coin held in a corresponding mechanism, a cross rock shaft carrying in spaced relation thereon rockable members operatively associated respectively with the corresponding pivoted members of said mechanisms, whereby the associated rockable member may act to rock the shaft, a dispenser respectively associated with each handling mechanism, means to operate the dispensers, means normally locking each dispenser, and means governed by a coin in a handling mechanism and operable by a pivoted member to unlock and enable operation of the corresponding dispenser.

JOHN C. WAHL. 

